Royalwood Dairy invites the public to explore their dairy operation from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The dairy is located at 48170 266th St., rural Brandon.

During the four-hour seventh annual Day on the Farm at Royalwood Dairy, participants can learn how milk is produced on the Ode family’s 260-cow farm, enjoy a free pancake breakfast made by Chris Cakes and free malts by the Midwest Dairy Association, meet baby calves, and enjoy kids' activities. Phil Baker will also be performing at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.

The event is courtesy of the Ode family, South Dakota Farm Families, Ag United, Midwest Dairy Association and South Dakota soybean farmers and their check-off.

Directions from Brandon to Royalwood Dairy: Go 5 miles south on SD Hwy. 11, 1/2 mile east on 266th St. From Sioux Falls: Follow East 10th St. out of Sioux Falls on Hwy 42. Turn left on to Hwy 11 for one-fourth of a mile, then go east one-half mile on 266th St.

In addition to the open houses at Royalwood Dairy, Norling farm in Beresford and Hilltop Dairy in Brookings, one last open house is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at Cottonwood Ridge Dairy, 488th Ave., Garretson. The Nussbaum family will provide tours of their new milking barn that features robotic milkers.

Ag United has hosted open houses in honor of June Dairy Month since 2008, giving thousands of South Dakota families the opportunity to meet dairy farm families and learn about this important industry. South Dakota dairy farms produce about 235 million gallons of milk and generate about $388 million in milk sales each year.

“We appreciate the families willingness to open up their farm to their neighbors and surrounding communities,” said Rebecca Christman, outreach director for Ag United. “It is a great opportunity for people to see firsthand how committed South Dakota dairy farmers are to providing the best possible care for their cows and the environment.”